Spring cushion structure



Nov. 30, 1954 W. A. CLARK SPRING CUSHION STRUCTURE Filed Aug. 10, 1948INVENTOR.

[WY/[W27 7. 670? cushion structure. part .of certain features .tof my 1application "for letters =Patent, Serial No. 508,1filed January 5,194.8,,Patent No. 2,568,055 issued September 18, 19.51, and particularlythe bracing features thereof.

SPRING CUSHION STRUCTURE William A. Clark, Detroit, Mich.,rassignr 'tmLaA. Young Spring & Wire Corporation,Detr0it,,.Mich.

Application August.1!) 1948,- SerialNo. 43,489

Claims. (Cl. 155-173) United States Patent .This invention arelates :ltoimprovements iiIl :spring- This application is :a continuationrin- Themain objects -.of-thisiinvention are:

First,.to provide a .spring cushionstructure comprising upright bodystprings or upholstery supporting'springs with bracing means.toapreventgobjectionableaswaying,

which is effective for the purpose and at zthesame time,

tura-l details thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary top view withthe upholstery removed, parts being shown conventionally,

illustrating details .of .one of .the'rbracing units .of my invention.

"The embodiment. of .my invention illustrated in the accompanying.drawings comprises. a base border frame 1 provided witha downwardlyfacing channel having a tacking insert 2. Longitudinal basebars 3:and-transverse bars i4 are secured .to :this frame preferably -.bywelding. The longitudinal and transverse bars are preferably weldedtogether at their crossing points as indicated at 5.

The base border frame and these longitudinal and transverse base barsprovide a strong, rigid base upon which the body springs 6 are mounted.These body springs 6 are arranged in rows and are supported on the basebars, being secured thereto by means of the clips 7. The rows of springsare arranged in rows of connected pockets 8 as is more fully shown in mysaid application for Letters Patent. This particular detail, however,forms no part of my present invention except that there is arelationship between the bracing elements and the springs and theirpocket strips which will be presently described or pointed out.

The structure illustrated comprises a top border and upholsterysupporting frame designated generally by the numeral 9 and comprisingthe outer member 10 and the inner member 11, disposed in parallel spacedrelation thereto and secured or rigidly connected thereto by means ofthe clips or struts 12. This border frame is an adaptation and is, insome respects, a modification of the Asaro Patent No. 2,336,975, issuedDecember 14, 1943. The border frame is provided with a tongue 13 struckfrom the web portion of the strut or clip 12 and pivotally embracing thelaterally disposed arm 14 at the upper or outer end of the brace 15.

The brace 15 is formed of wire or light rod stock and the tongue 13engages the arm to prevent tilting of the arm relative to the framewhile permitting its pivotal movement. The brace is provided at itsinner or lower end with a helical-like coil or hook 16 which is engagedwith one of the longitudinal bars 3 and with one of the transverse barsat their crossing points. It will be noted that the brace shaft extendstangentially from this helical-like hook or coil so that it is above thelongitudinal bar 3, with which the hook is engaged while the commercialembodiment 10f my invention. attempted to illustrate ordescribe-otheradaptationsor modificationswhich l contemplate as it is believed that-.hook passes vhelically aroundgand closely embraces the longitudinalbar ;with the tip portion 17 of. the I hook in thrust sustainingengagement with the bar ,3. and extend- :ingi upwardly at-thesidecf thetransverse baropposite from .the shaft; portion of ;the I brace, therebypreventing transverse shifting. This arrangement permits a very rapidassembling 70f the brace .and ,avoids -the .use -.of

special clips. -It will be understood-that aslmany braces are .used

as desired, only two being-illustratedin theiaccompanying drawing.

The =,pocketed body springs are spaced, the pockets being :connected:bythe web .portions :18 and .thebraces are .threaded through these .web,portions. advantage of preventing shifting of the springs so t-hat This'.has the they are not a likelyto. contact the-brace and cause ,noise.

Inuse, the-braces are subjected -to quite heavy stresses which tendgto.bow or bend the braces usually in the direction of ,the arrow in. Fig.2. ,To,prevent thisben'd- ,-ing-or counteract thistendency,applicant-forms the brace with .awbend. 19 resulting in a-relativelyshort, .angularly disposed section 20. adjacent the hook. This:angularly disposed sectionlis disposed-intthe plane of theiarm 14 .ofthe brace. Commercial use .has demonstrated that this bend. or.angularly settsection isefrective inpreventing the objectionable bowingof the shaft of the brace.

The upholstery Zlisprovided with suitableupholstery .paddingZZ which issupported on the springs tbynieans .of the mat 23. :The skirt portion 24of the upholstery covering isbrought aroundrthe base border frame andsecured to the tacking insert strip as bythetacks 25.

I have illustrated and .described a highly practical I have not thisdisclosurewill enable thoseskilledin the art to-embody or adaptwthesameas may be -desired.

Having thus described my invention what I'claimtas new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

I. A spring-structure comprisingza base framerand longitudinal andtransverse base bars, rows of body springs mounted ton-said base andhaving their bottom .coilsnseeured :thereto .to support the "bodysprings in spaced upright :relation, .the rows of body springs beinginconnected pockets a top border frame carried by the border bodysprings and comprising outer and inner members connected at intervals bystruts, certain of said struts being provided with bendable tongues, anddiagonally disposed braces having laterally disposed arms at their upperends engaged by said tongues of said border frame struts, said braceshaving laterally disposed helicallike coils at their other endsprojecting oppositely from their said arms, the helical-like coils beingengaged with one of the longitudinal base bars and the transverse basebars at their crossing points, the axes of said helical-like coilscoinciding with the longitudinal axis of said longitudinal bar and eachhelical-like coil having axially spaced portions disposed on oppositesides of a transverse bar at its crossing point with said longitudinalbar, the portion of each coil between said axially spaced portions beingof helical-like form and in engagement with the longitudinal bar on theside thereof opposite from the side on which the crossing transverse baris disposed whereby the longitudinal bar so engaged sustains the endthrust of the braces and the transverse bars prevent lateral shifting oftheir said other ends, the braces being arranged between and out ofcontact with adjacent body springs and extending through the connectionsfor adjacent spring pockets.

2. A spring structure comprising a base frame and longitudinal andtransverse base bars, rows of body springs mounted on said base andhaving their bottom coils secured thereto to support the body springs inspaced upright relation, a top border frame carried by the border bodysprings and comprising outer and inner members connected at intervals bystruts, certain of said struts being provided with bendable tongues, anddiagonally disposed braces having laterally disposed arms at their upperends engaged by said tongues of said border frame struts, said braceshaving laterally disposed helicallike coils at their other ends, thehelical-like coils being engaged with one of the longitudinal base barsand the transverse base bars at their crossing points, the axes of saidhelical-like coils coinciding with the longitudinal axis of saidlongitudinal bar and each helicallike coil having axially spacedportions disposed on opposite sides of a transverse bar at its crossingpoint with said longitudinal bar, the portion of each coil between saidaxially spaced portions being of helical-like form and in engagementwith the longitudinal bar on the side thereof opposite from the side onwhich the crossing transverse bar is disposed whereby the longitudinalbar so engaged sustains the end thrust of the braces and the transversebars prevent lateral shifting of their said other ends, the braces beingarranged between and out of contact with adjacent body springs.

3. In a spring structure, the combination of a base comprising a borderframe and longitudinal and transverse bars, body springs mounted on saidbase, a top border frame yieldably supported by the body springs andconnected thereto, said top border frame comprising outer and innermembers connected by a strut having a bendable tongue, and a diagonallydisposed brace provided at one end with a laterally disposed arm engagedby said tongue and pivotally and non-tiltably connected to said topborder frame by said strut, said brace having a helical-like coil at itsother'end projecting oppositely from said arm and engaged with alongitudinal base bar and a transverse base bar at their crossing pointswith the longitudinal bar sustaining the end thrust of the brace and thetransverse bar the lateral shifting stress on the brace, the coilclosely embracing the longitudinal bar and the axis of the coilcoinciding with the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bar, the bracehaving an angular bend adjacent to but spaced from the coil and disposedin the plane of the brace and its laterally projecting arm.

4. In a spring structure, the combination of a base comprising a borderframe and longitudinal and trans verse bars, body springs mounted onsaid base, a top border frame yieldably supported by the body springsand connected thereto, said top border frame comprising outer and innermembers connected bya strut having a bendable tongue, and a diagonallydisposed brace provided at one end with a laterally disposed arm engagedby said tongue and pivotally and non-tiltably connected to said topborder frame by said strut, said brace having a helical-like coil at itsother end projecting oppositely from said arm and engaged with alongitudinal base bar and a transverse base bar at its crossing pointwith the longitudinal bar sustaining the end thrust of the brace and thetransverse'bar the lateral shifting stress on the brace, the coilclosely embracing the longitudinal bar and the axis of the coilcoinciding with the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bar and thecoil having axially spaced portions disposed on opposite sides of thetransverse bar, the portion of the coil between said axially spacedportions being of helical-like form and in engagement with thelongitudinal bar on the side thereof opposite from the side on which thecrossing transverse bar is disposed.

5. In a spring structure, the combination with a base comprising aborder frame and longitudinal and trans-' verse bars disposed incrossing relation, body springs mounted on said base, a top border framecarried by the body springs, a diagonally disposed rod-like brace havinga laterally disposed arm at its upper end pivotally and non-tiltablysecured to the top border frame, said brace having a laterally disposedhelical-like hook at its lower end extending oppositely from its saidarm and engaged with one of the longitudinal bars and having axiallyspaced portions disposed on opposite 'sides of one of the transversebars at their crossing point'with the longitudinal bar sustaining theend thrust of the brace and the transverse bar sustaining the lower endof the brace against lateral shifting, the portion of the coil betweensaid axially spaced portions being of helical-like form and inengagement with the longitudinal bar on the side thereof opposite fromthe side on which the crossing transverse bar is disposed, the bracehaving an angular bend therein adjacent its hook providing a relativelyshort angularly disposed section in the plane of the braceand its armand acting to counteract bowing or bending of the brace between its saidarm and hook.

3 References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date Re 18,860 Costigan June 6, 1933 999,816 Macy Aug. 8,1911 1,103,526 Mellon July 14, 1914 1,592,870 Scholzen July 20, 19261,859,630 Oldham May .24, 1932 2,002,157 Reed May 21, 1935 2,199,382Widman May 7, 1940 2,364,948 Clark Dec. 12, 1944 2,469,216 Spunt et al.May 3, 1949

